Life is about learning and it’s even truer when you decide to embark on something you have no clue about…and solo.
Yep, I’ve not been raised to be an overlander, but breed at sea, the wind and sails for favourite GPS.
Life and its mystery brought me to Africa and made me love the overlanding lifestyle so (too?) much. But I had absolutely no idea about this activity before my first experience early 2020. Except that time when I had to sleep on the roof -literally- of a Toyota in the middle of the Sahara desert. I was 15.
When I rented that Hilux in 2020, I remember overlanders saying that these rental cars are under equipped. So, not the best inspiration apparently.
Anyway, my first car choice went for a Toyota. And no negotiation on that. In my mind: Africa = Toyota (reliability, spare parts, local workshops’ knowledge, etc). That was logical to me.
BUT!
They say the more you practice the better you get. And I have to reckon that I made one mistake when I was equipping Rafiki.
I actually underestimated the role of solar panels. I’ve been traveling 16 months relying on that small auxiliary battery charged by the engine running to then assume the fridge and some devices. So naive I was. I barely used my fridge (mostly off because of the lack of power); I’ve been eating yogurt hot like a braai and cheese smelling my feet.
But battery, elec circuit and power are not my thing. I prefer to keep to basics not only because I want to stay wild but because I’m lazy. I don’t want to stress me with all this.
Today though, Rafiki has drastically changed and…I can’t be lazy anymore…if you know what I mean. And yep, I do understand the importance of a solar after so much time living on the road.
All that to day that if you’re getting ready for some overland adventures, there are a few essentials out there!
Comments